Inspiring Cornwall’s Minds and Miners for Our Future

Wheal Martyn Clay Works, near St Austell, was chosen as one of thirty-six small museums across the UK to be awarded funding by the Royal Society Places of Science scheme to engage communities with their local science stories. This short film celebrates the successful engagement project delivered by Wheal Martyn Trust over the summer of 2025. A bit of background: Mining has truly shaped the local Cornish landscape and its people. Whilst China clay continues to be extracted in the area around Wheal Martyn, the potential for lithium extraction is also being actively explored – these developments, new innovations and science in the local area brings with it opportunities, hopes and, for some, concerns. Through this project, Wheal Martyn aimed to engage local pupils with their mining heritage, to foster a sense of pride in their place, and to ignite ambitions for a greener future by exploring the possibilities ahead and inspiring the future workforce for our evolving Cornish mining story.